Pennsylvania Bio renames as Life Sciences Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA — The statewide trade organization for life sciences company in Pennsylvania, which has been named Pennsylvania Bio, announced Wednesday that it would be changing its name and brand.

The organization is now Life Sciences Pennsylvania. Among the reasons for the name change was the organization’s expansion beyond its founders’ focus on biotechnology. The organization’s membership has more than doubled in the last 10 years, growing to more than 700-organization membership has more than doubled and now includes biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as patient various patient advocacy and investment organizations and service providers supporting the life sciences community in the state.

“The life sciences industry is changing and evolving at an unprecedented pace. In Pennsylvania, we’re seeing mergers and acquisitions consolidate companies, focus strategies and inspire the formation of new, specialized entrepreneurial enterprises,” Life Sciences Pennsylvania president and CEO Christopher Molineaux said. “ With our new moniker, Life Sciences Pennsylvania will continue to advance our supporting role as companion and advocate for this diverse and thriving community.”

The portfolio includes hospital- and clinic-administered products for which abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) have been filed, and some whose ANDAs will be filed imminently, the companies said. The combined U.S. sales of the drugs for 12 months ending August 2016 were about $1 billion, according to IMS Health moving annual total data.

“We are excited about this opportunity. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has a strong track record in developing, marketing and distributing generic injectables in the U.S.,” Dr. Reddy’s EVP and head of North America Alok Sonig said. “Our strengths, combined with Gland’s track record of manufacturing and operational excellence, will help bring affordable medications within reach of patients and complement our specialty injectables offering in the short-to-medium term.”

Dr. Reddy’s has been developing its injectable business in the United States, recently launching a generic of Zemplar (paricalcitol) injection.

“We are happy to expand our collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s for marketing and distribution of Gland Products in US and other Ex-U.S. markets,” Gland Pharma COO Srinivas Sadu said. “Dr. Reddy’s has an impressive track record of commercializing injectables products in the U.S., and we are confident that our partnership will continue to grow.”

Kaléo’s Auvi-Q auto-injector to return to U.S. in 2017

RICHMOND, Va. — Kaléo announced Wednesday that it will be reintroducing its Auvi-Q (epinephrine injection) auto-injector in the United States during the first half of 2017. This would bring another option to the epinephrine auto-injector space at a time when access and affordability in the space have seen focus from patients and legislators.

“Today’s news represents an important milestone for the life-threatening allergy community, which has suffered from a lack of epinephrine auto-injector options for far too long,” kaléo VP product development and industrialization Evan Edwards said. “As the inventors of Auvi-Q, my brother and I have dedicated our lives to researching and developing an innovative epinephrine auto-injector that would do for severe allergy sufferers what the AEDs did for cardiac arrest in the community; namely a product that could assist and guide even an untrained user through a life-threatening emergency.”

Auvi-Q includes a voice-prompt system to guide a user through the delivery process and a needle that automatically retracts after being administered. Kaléo regained the rights to Auvi-Q and invested in new technology and systems to ensure consistent and accurate delivery, the company said.

“As a patient and parent of children with life-threatening allergies, I know how the moment of an allergic emergency can unfold — with panic and fear — and that is why I believe and trust in Auvi-Q, not only for myself, but also for my children and other families who might have to depend on it. Driven by this reality, kaléo strives for flawless manufacturing to ensure each Auvi-Q is built to exceptional quality standards,” kaléo VP product strategy Dr. Eric Edwards said.

Kaléo said that In light of access and affordability challenges, it was working with stakeholders — including wholesalers, payers, pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers — to ensure that patients will have affordable access to Auvi-Q.

“As we prepare to make AUVI-Q available once again in the United States, our priority is to return AUVI-Q to the market as an epinephrine auto-injector alternative that all patients can afford,” kaléo president and CEO Spencer Williamson said.

As part of a panel at the recent Drug Store News Industry Issues Summit, officials from Walmart and Kroger shared the ways the two organizations go about taking a collaborative approach to health care.

Forgotten Password

Registration complete

REGISTER

USERNAME *

Spaces are allowed; punctuation is not allowed except for periods, hyphens, and underscores.

E-MAIL ADDRESS *

A valid e-mail address. All e-mails from the system will be sent to this address. The e-mail address is not made public and will only be used if you wish to receive a new password or wish to receive certain news or notifications by e-mail.

Password *

Confirm Password *

Please choose a password for your account; it must be 8 - 30 characters. .

First Name *

Last Name *

Company Name *

Job Title *

ZIP *

Are you a *

Retailer or Healthcare professional

Non-Retailer

How many stores do you operate?: *

Which best describes the business/industry you work in?: *

Which best describes your job title?: *

Please select the newsletters you would like to subscribe to

DSN A.M.
Daily news stories covering the retail drug industry

Breaking News
First-to-the-market with developing stories in the industry